I.

Israel Elliott, he purchased

a patent – the southwest

quarter; section twenty, township

sixteen, range fourteen east.

 

He then sold a portion to plat

the town of Centerville.

One hundred and seventeen lots

carved out of wilderness.

 

II.

Obadiah Weaver purchased

lot numbered forty-four

in eighteen twenty nine; he sold

half the lot soon after.

 

The remaining portion was passed

to Nathan Smith, his heirs

and assigns, but it soon changed hands

again, year after year.

 

III.

After the Civil War, Kittredge

Hill bought the east half of

lot forty-four; he kept the south

but sold Abden the north.

 

Abden lived in his house for ten

years, until he sold out

to Kittredge’s son Lloyd. Father

and son lived side by side.

 

IV.

Widow Lucinda Dodge owned the

west half of forty-four.

After her marriage to Joseph

Stratton, the land was Lloyd’s.

 

Before he died, Kittredge gave his

quarter of forty-four

to Lloyd. The lot remained as one

‘til he passed in aught five.

 

V.

William Commons, executor,

partitioned the estate.

The western half of forty-four

belonged to widow Hoar.

 

Her daughter used the proceeds of

the land to help cover

costs of invalid and insane

brothers, John and Michael.

 

VI.

Another decade unfolds, then

two elderly sisters,

widows, move from Green’s Fork into

East Plum Street, Centerville.

 

By nineteen fifty-one, it’s time

for Nan to move in with

her son Lewis, so he can take

closer care of his mother.

 

VII.

Finally, lot forty-four or

East Plum Street, whatever

it prefers to be called, found a

family to hold dear.

 

Mac and Louise, their forever

home, two thirteen East Plum,

for fifty-eight years, rooms filled with

devotion, laughter, love.

© 2024, Deborah Sweeney